Admittedly, the sell-out crowd on hand Monday for the Tampa Bay Rays’ opening-day clobbering of the Toronto Blue Jays had something to do with it.

But, like the team itself, upgrades to the stadium are off to a good start. Fans made great use of the 360-degree walkway that surrounds the lower deck, congregating throughout the game for beer, cheers and boisterous conversation.

Mark Krasowski of St. Petersburg, hanging out with friends behind the right field bleachers, raved about the walkway. “We used to hang out on the Captain Morgan Deck,” he said. “This is even better.”

Dick Crippen, the former sports anchor who’s been a Rays senior advisor for 15 years, gave his take on the 360 experience: “Before, you went down [stairs] to get to the concessions. You’d hear a roar of the crowd and have to hunt for a TV. Now you can keep tabs on the game.”

Just in case fans needed access to a television, though, they didn’t have to look very far. Big screens were especially plentiful at the new Porch in Center Field, Tropicana Field’s other main addition. A full-fledged party was happening throughout the game at this gathering spot.

Verdict: The 360 walkway and Porch in Center Field definitely enhances the fan experience.

The Rays have described the new features as a multimillion-dollar project ($250,000 of which was reportedly paid by the city of St. Petersburg). Obviously, they pay better dividends with big, enthusiastic crowds, so their effect remains to be seen when Kansas City visits for a three-game series in August.

But those sobering thoughts are for later. When the crowd filed out after a 9-2 Rays win — with pitcher David Price 1-0 and outfielder Wil Myers 3-for-5 (with two runs and two RBIs) — it was hard to think anything other than this had been a near-perfect opening day.